Aftercooler bypass means for a locomotive compressed air system
AssigneeWestinghouse Air Brake Company
InventorsWalter E. Goettel, Brian L. Cunkelman, Daniel G. Wagner, Roger Drummond
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for heating gases cooled by an aftercooler that receives hot gases from a compressor. The method includes the steps of directing at least a portion of said hot gases to means for bypassing the aftercooler, and using the bypass means to direct hot gases to a location that receives cooled gases from the aftercooler. The hot gases are used at the location to heat the cooled gases when ambient temperature is at or below freezing, and are used downstream from the aftercooler when moisture freezes in the aftercooler.
Claims8
A method of bypassing an aftercooler connected to receive high temperature compressed air from a source of such air, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) connecting (1) a first port of a three-way valve to such source of high temperature air, (2) a second port of such valve to such aftercooler, and (3) a third port of such valve to an output pipe, and
- (b) opening said valve between said first and second ports to conduct high temperature air through said valve to said third port when ambient temperature is at or below freezing, and
- closing said valve to said high temperature air when ambient temperature is above freezing such that the valve passes only cooled air to the output pipe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.